Most Important Skills for a Self Employed CEO Founder
For a CEO/Founder like Hector, it might seem that communication is key, but "listening is critical," particularly active listening that focuses on the client's words and body language. This allows a career professional to "read between the lines" and ask probing questions to truly understand what's happening with a client's career, business, or leadership skills.
Listening Skills, Communication, Executive/Leadership, Career Development, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Hector J Bordas
CEO/Founder
OnePlusWe -- self employed
University of So. Ca & Cal. State, Long Beach
Biology & Related Sciences, Engineering - Civil
Coaching, Speaking & Writing
Consulting
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Listening is more important than talking: Letting the client speak and paying close attention to their words is crucial for understanding their needs and challenges.
2. Observe body language: Even in virtual settings like Zoom, observing a client's body language (leaning, eye movements) can provide valuable insights.
3. Read between the lines: Develop the ability to understand the underlying meaning behind a client's words and ask probing questions to uncover the real issues.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
A job like mine, you would think talking is the most important skill, but it actually isn't. You want to let your client talk a lot, about what's going on in their career, business, or leadership skills.
The most important skill is really listening. This isn't just waiting for your turn to speak, but truly paying attention to each word.
Even on Zoom, you can observe body language: are they leaning forward or back? What do their eyes suggest? Listening is critical for developing this skill.
Sometimes clients say things where you need to read between the lines to ask probing questions about what's really happening. So, the number one thing is really listening.